How to Clean Ceilings

This article was co-authored by Andrii Gurskyi. Andrii Gurskyi is the Owner and founder of Rainbow Cleaning Service, an NYC cleaning company specializing in apartments, homes, and moving cleanup. He founded Rainbow Cleaning Service in 2010 in NYC, and has since provided services for over 35,000 customers. RCS uses non-toxic and artificial fragrance free cleaning solutions that are safe to be used in households with pets and small children.

There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Ceilings are one of the parts of your home that you always see but seldom clean. The nature of ceilings makes them somewhat difficult to clean. Unfortunately, ceilings do get dirty and are rather unsightly when they are covered with dust or other stains. Thankfully, by removing debris, wiping down your ceiling, and knowing how to clean specific stains, you’ll be better able to clean your ceilings.

Vacuum the ceiling. Simply take the vacuum and gently run it along the surface of the ceiling. Depending on the type of vacuum you have, you may be able to vacuum a substantial amount of debris before doing anything else.

Use a bristle-brush attachment or another attachment intended for easily-scratched surfaces.

Extend the telescoping shaft of your vacuum, if you have one.

Pay special attention to corners, where crown molding meets the ceiling, and areas around air vents.[1]

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Wipe dirty areas with a dry microfiber cloth. If certain parts of your ceiling are exceptionally dirty, you may need to use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe them. Take your cloth and gently pat or wipe the area.

Avoid applying too much pressure so as not to rub dirt or dust into the ceiling.

Get a new cloth once the one you are using is dirty.

If you can't reach the ceiling, use a chair, ladder, or take a broom and fix your microfiber cloth to the end of it.[3]

Create a cleaning mixture. While a variety of cleaning solutions will help clean your ceiling, you should create a specific solution that won’t damage paint, tiles, trim, and other surfaces. To create a cleaning solution:

Andrii Gurskyi is the Owner and founder of Rainbow Cleaning Service, an NYC cleaning company specializing in apartments, homes, and moving cleanup. He founded Rainbow Cleaning Service in 2010 in NYC, and has since provided services for over 35,000 customers. RCS uses non-toxic and artificial fragrance free cleaning solutions that are safe to be used in households with pets and small children.

AG

Andrii Gurskyi Cleaning Guru & Owner, Rainbow Cleaning Service

If you can clean with less-harsh cleaners, try those first. Always try to use organic supplies, especially if someone in the house has allergies, or there are children in the home. A mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap will clean most surfaces and usually won't affect your health.

Use a paint roller to roll over your ceiling. Find a large paint roller, dampen it with water, and roll allover your ceiling. Do so in a systematic way so that you get complete coverage of the ceiling.

If you have a textured ceiling, try a dabbing motion instead of a wiping motion.

Make sure you remove all the vinegar and detergent solution that you sprayed on the ceiling.[6]

Use an eraser to remove pencil marks. If you have pencil marks or similar marks on your ceiling, you may be able to use an eraser to remove them. Simply take the eraser and gently rub it against the marks on your ceiling.

An eraser will work best on pencil marks and may even work on crayon or pen marks.

Apply trisodium phosphate (TSP) to soot stains. Purchase TSP at a home improvement store and mix some with a small amount of water. This should create a thick paste. Use a painting brush to apply the paste to the stained area.

Only use as much as you need to cover the stain.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions printed on the TSP container.

Use goggles or other safety equipment.

Place a plastic sheet or cardboard box beneath the stain so the TSP doesn’t damage your flooring.[9]

Avoid disturbing asbestos ceiling tiles or popcorn ceiling that may contain asbestos. If your home was constructed before 1978, you may want to consult an environmental testing service to determine if your ceiling contains asbestos.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Andrii Gurskyi. Andrii Gurskyi is the Owner and founder of Rainbow Cleaning Service, an NYC cleaning company specializing in apartments, homes, and moving cleanup. He founded Rainbow Cleaning Service in 2010 in NYC, and has since provided services for over 35,000 customers. RCS uses non-toxic and artificial fragrance free cleaning solutions that are safe to be used in households with pets and small children.